The peak body representing the Queensland bus industry says the state of the art design of the new Redland Bay Marina bus station should be the template for future transport hubs throughout the state.

Final approval has been given for the construction of the bus station which will now have an increased capacity for three buses at a time plus additional bus waiting bays.

But Queensland Bus Industry Council executive Director David Tape says the key feature of the new terminal is that it improves the waiting environment for patrons travelling between ferry and bus services.

“The Redland Bay Marina station is what we want to see transport hubs look like moving forward as they fully service the needs of the customer without compromising safety for both patrons and drivers.”

Mr Tape says the design, which also incorporates driver facilities, will also enable waiting passenger’s better visual access so they can keep an eye on arriving and departing services.

“QBIC fully supports this type of forward thinking and planning and design as these new hubs represent the way forward in catering for increased services in expanding communities.

Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC) Executive Director David Tape says the industry supports any measure aimed at increasing bus patronage and getting more cars off the region’s busy arterial roads.

“From what we understand it appears this plan will be entirely Council funded with no impact on the ratepayer but while we embrace this initiative, certain criteria must be met.”

Mr Tape says for ‘fare free Fridays’ to be successful, focus must remain on the efficiencies of SouthEast Queensland’s bus network.

“More buses need more drivers so that is one key area which has to be taken into account, plus we must ensure the right number of routes and services are in place in regions where there is increased demand.

“Research shows many patrons already travel for free later in the week because of Translink’s nine fare allowance so this could be seen as an extension of that initiative, which we fully support.”

Mr Tape says any move designed to arrest the slide in bus patronage must be given full consideration and believes this type of move can encourage new customers who may not have considered - or had access to - bus travel before.

“This can really assist QBIC’s ‘Moving Queensland’ blueprint which showed among other things, the vital need for new routes and more services.”

The head of the peak body representing Queensland’s bus industry says decision makers are finally starting to "see the light" by introducing more routes and services along Brisbane’s peak thoroughfares.

Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC) executive director David Tape has applauded Brisbane City Council and Translink for committing to five extra peak morning routes accessing Legacy Way tunnel which will take passengers from the western suburbs into the inner city and CBD locations.

Mr Tape says the new routes and extra services should serve as the template for further changes to other congested corridors in the greater Brisbane region.

“Commuters, especially school and university students, will save up to 15 minutes each morning taking these routes, but the best news is that every new bus service takes approximately 50 cars off the road and goes a long way to easing congestion.”

“The Western Freeway is a carpark during morning peak hour and with more bus services soon able to access the new tunnel, the easing in congestion will be noticeable.”

QBIC, which this year released its ‘Moving Queensland’ blueprint for the future, is confident this move will show the tangible benefits that more services and extra routes will have on reducing traffic, particularly as the south-east grows.

"Bus infrastructure is pivotal in the current planning process for new developments and residential building projects," said Mr Tape, while also stressing the importance of having improved bus feeder networks into the train system.

“Buses enjoy 65 per cent of public transport market share in the south-east corner and continue to be the most effective and reliable form of passenger commute.”

The peak body representing the Queensland bus industry has called for more infrastructure spending with new figures showing bus travel to clearly be the most popular option for south-east commuters.

The latest Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) patronage figures for the year (2014- 15) showed 64 per cent of patronage was by bus, more than twice the number of the second leading mode of transport, rail.

Queensland Bus Industry Council Executive Director David Tape says the data again highlights the urgent need for a host of new bus infrastructure especially with the continuing rapid growth of outlying suburban regions.

“Buses enjoy a near 65 per cent of transport market share in the south-east corner and continues to prove to be the most effective and reliable form of passenger commute. Our internal research shows demand will continue to grow so we must put the infrastructure in place now.”

“Dedicated lanes, and priority signalling at congested intersections are imperative while more services are urgently needed and we call on all forms of Government to ensure improving bus networks remains high on their agenda”.

Mr Tape says as a congestion-buster nothing beats catching a bus because for every single bus service, at least 50 fewer cars are on the road.

DTMR figures showed buses accounted for 113.6 million trips through the south-east corner in the past twelve months while there was a slight drop in numbers in the Gold Coast region because of the region’s new light rail service.

The head of Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC) says the penny is finally starting to drop as politicians realise the importance of building dedicated bus transport lanes in the south-east.

Brisbane City Council’s Labour opposition has flagged a 91 million dollar ‘Suburban Congestion Busting Fund’ to deal with a decades-old problem along two major arterial spots on Old Cleveland and Gympie roads.

QBIC executive director David Tape has welcomed the announcement and says these two ‘transitways’ will drastically improve peak hour flow on the two major roads.

“This is the best way of busting congestion in the middle ring suburbs like Chermside and Carindale because the public will embrace a fast, reliable and cost-effective public transport system.”

“Why this has not already happened is a mystery because for as long as I can remember, there has always been a need for dedicated bus lanes on these extremely busy routes.”

Under the opposition’s plan, the Northern Transitway would connect the Northern Busway at Lutwyche both inbound and outbound through a three kilometres stretch along Gympie Road.

The Eastern Transitway would provide ‘bus priority measures’ along Old Cleveland Road at five intersections from Cavendish through to Creek Roads.

Mr Tape says the industry has been calling for a greater focus on bus infrastructure including bus lanes and points to the fact that for every bus service, at least 50 fewer cars are on the road.

The peak body representing Queensland’s bus industry says figures showing a decline in commuters using buses are alarming and will only improve if fares become affordable.

Executive director of the Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC) David Tape said it is no use playing the ‘blame game’, and has called on all levels of government to get on with the job of attracting new commuters.

“To see any decline in patronage is extremely disappointing as it will only lead to greater road congestion, which is both economically and environmentally damaging to our state.”

Brisbane City Council’s 2014-15 figures show Council bus patronage dropped nearly 3 per cent equating to around 42,300 less passengers per week while across the entire network, including private services, bus usage dipped around 4.6 per cent.

Mr Tape believes affordable fares remain the key to getting people back on the buses. “If commuters can afford the fares, it will lead to more demand; more demand means more buses and frequency of services. This is the only viable way of unclogging our choked up, major transport arteries.”

“The State Government review into public transport fares is crucial. Queensland must come into line with other states when it comes to fare affordability.”

QBIC, which recently released its ‘Moving Queensland’ blueprint for the future, has also called for an expansion of the existing busways network in conjunction with dedicated bus lanes, increasing park ‘n ride capacity and better integration between different modes of transport.

Mr Tape said every bus takes up to 50 cars off the road, and unlike rail travel which has a long lead time before new services are created, bus routes are flexible and can meet changing demands and population centres.

The peak body representing Queensland’s bus industry has welcomed today’s announcement of a review into public transport fares in South-East Queensland, despite no one from the industry – which accounts for over sixty percent of public transport – being appointed to the Fare Review taskforce.

Executive Director of the Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC) David Tape said any review that could improve bus patronage and encourage more people to use public transport was beneficial to the state, both economically and environmentally.

“Affordability will assist in better usage of bus networks, and increased demand will lead to greater frequency of services,” he explained.

“The review has the potential to bring Queensland in line with other states when it comes to affordability.”

QBIC has campaigned for more bus infrastructure and a greater focus on bus travel as roads become more congested, and earlier this year released its “Moving People Queensland” blueprint.

Mr Tape said every bus takes up to 50 cars off the road, and unlike rail travel which has a long lead time before new services can be created, bus routes are flexible and can meet changing demands and population centres.

QBIC also praised the removal of the Tertiary Transport Concession Card.

“This will be welcomed by students, as they currently must carry three cards to access the concession. A simple Go-Card solution will simplify this and make access to the concession much easier.”

Queensland’s peak bus industry body has commended the Department of Transport for their recent discussions with James Cook University about an overhaul of Townsville’s bus system.

According to ABC reports, part of the discussions centre on Ross River Road and will include “designated bus lanes and improvements to major and frequently-used bus stops along the route.”

The report also said the department would look at linking traffic signals with buses, so they could be given the green light at intersections if they were running late.

Executive Director of the Queensland Bus Industry Council David Tape said discussions like this are necessary for future public transport and the growing congestion impacting our cities.

“The industry has been calling for a greater focus on bus infrastructure including bus lanes for some time.”

He said that although future upgrades are not yet known, introduction of designated bus lanes with the linkage of traffic signals with buses will provide for quicker bus travel times and remove buses from the normal traffic flow.

“We must provide better quality of service to commuters and reduce traffic congestion, and a bus takes the place of approximately 50 cars,” he explained.

“Buses make up over 90 per cent of public transport in North Queensland and bus travel is an efficient, reliable and effective method of transport.”

The East Brisbane arterial network will be expanded from four lanes to six as part of a 115 million dollar project but whether the extra lanes will be for buses or open to all traffic, is yet to be determined.

David Tape, executive director of the Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC) says there should be no argument.

“This is what the region, with its expanding population, needs now before it is too late. Extra bus lanes along this busy route means extra services for Wynnum and surrounding bayside suburbs.”